Manuela obtained her BSc in Biological Science and an MSc in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology both with Summa cum Laude Honours, from the University of Milano – Italy with a one-year internship at the University of Galway – Ireland. Her passion for parasites was reflected in her thesis, which focused on the use of parasites as biocontrol agents of slugs.  

After her studies, Manuela worked for an NGO in Mozambique as an Assistant Project Manager on a food security project, focusing on reducing malnutrition in pre-school children from rural villages. Her interest for parasitic diseases was reinforced during this time, as she witnessed first-hand the effects of tropical infectious diseases and the impact they can have on rural populations. On returning to Italy, Manuela worked as a high school science teacher. She began her doctoral studies at NRI in 2018 on a project that described and quantified the close-range approach and landing behaviour of host-seeking malaria mosquitoes. In particular, she explored the responses to host-associated stimuli such as thermal, visual and odour features. During her PhD she won the Judges Award at the University level, and the People’s Choice Award at the UK Nationals of the 3 Minute Thesis competition.

For her thesis, Manuela was awarded the Vice-Chancellor PhD prize for “student of the year”. In 2022, she worked as a Professional Teaching Demonstrator at the University of Greenwich, whilst also obtaining her PGCert in HE and becoming a Fellow of the HEA. Manuela returned to NRI in 2023 as a Fellow in Insect Behavioural Ecology in the Pest Behaviour Research Group, where she now works on mosquito mating behaviour and a blackfly and onchocerciasis project.

In her extracurricular time, Manuela has been extensively involved with the NRI Postgraduate Society, the University of Greenwich Doctoral Society, and the Royal Entomological Society. In 2021 she was presented with the University of Greenwich Programme Representative of the Year Award.

• Luke, S.H., Roy, H.E., Thomas, C.D., Tilley, L.A., Ward, S., Watt, A., Carnaghi, M., Jaworski, C.C., Tercel, M.P., Woodrow, C. and Aown, S., 2023. Grand challenges in entomology: Priorities for action in the coming decades. Insect conservation and diversity, 16(2), pp.173-189 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12637)
• Carnaghi, M., Belmain, S.R., Hopkins, R.J., Hawkes, F.M. (2021) Multimodal synergisms in host stimuli drive landing response in malaria mosquitoes. Scientific Reports, 11, 7379.
  (doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-86772-4)
• Carnaghi, M., Kindermann, G., Reich, I., Shehan, J. and Gormally, M.J., 2021. Tolerance to extreme hot and cold temperatures in the EU-protected terrestrial slug Geomalacus maculosus. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 87(1), p.eyab005.
  (doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/mollus/eyab005)
• Ahmed, K.S.D., Stephens, C., Bistline-East, A., Williams, C.D., Mc Donnell, R.J., Carnaghi, M., Huallacháin, D.Ó. and Gormally, M.J. (2019) Biological control of pestiferous slugs using Tetanocera elata (Fabricius)(Diptera: Sciomyzidae): Larval behavior and feeding on slugs exposed to Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (Schneider, 1859). Biological Control, 135, pp. 1-8.
  (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2019.04.003)
• Carnaghi, M., Rae, R., De Ley, I.T., Johnston, E., Kindermann, G., Mc Donnell, R., O’Hanlon, A., Reich, I., Sheahan, J., Williams, C.D. and Gormally, M.J. (2017) Nematode associates and susceptibility of a protected slug (Geomalacus maculosus) to four biocontrol nematodes. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 27 (2), pp. 294-299.
  (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2016.1277418)
• Kouidrat, Y., Pizzol, D., Cosco, T., Thompson, T., Carnaghi, M., Bertoldo, A., Solmi, M., Stubbs, B. and Veronese, N. (2017) High prevalence of erectile dysfunction in diabetes: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of 145 studies. Diabetic Medicine, 34 (9), pp. 1185-1192.
  (doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.13403)
• Pizzol, D., Carnaghi M. (2017) Papillomavirus (HPV) in Low-Income Countries:Which Perspectives?. Journal of Immuno Virology, 1 (5).
  (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.19080/JOJIV.2017.01.555571)

Her research interests encompass vector behaviour, vector ecology, and the use of biocontrol agents as a way of controlling pests and vectors. She is also very passionate about neglected tropical diseases.

She currently works within the Pest Behaviour group with Dr Frances Hawkes and Prof Richard Hopkins. She also collaborates with Dr Noushin Emami.

• 2022 Vice-Chancellor award for “Student of the Year”, University of Greenwich.
• 2021 ‘People’s Choice winner’ at the UK National Finals 3MT competition, awarded by Vitae
• 2021 ‘Judges Choice winner’ at the University of Greenwich 3MT competition
• 2021 ‘People’s Choice winner’ at the Faculty of Engineering and Science 3MT competition, University of Greenwich
• Winner of the Video Competition at the 2021 Postgraduate Research Excellence Awards, awarded by the Research and Enterprise Training Institute, University of Greenwich
• 2021 ‘Programme Rep of the Year for Engineering and Science’, University of Greenwich
• ‘Commendable work’ for the ACAD 1286 module on Critical Reflection on Teaching, Learning, and Assessment in HE, University of Greenwich
• 2021 winner of ‘Best Oral Presentation’ for PhD Late-Stage category, NRIPS Symposium, University of Greenwich
• Awarded a Travel Grant by the VIBes in Bioscience to attend the VIBes in Bioscience 2020 International Conference
• 2019 winner of ‘Best Oral Presentation’ for PhD Early Stage category, NRIPS Symposium, University of Greenwich
• 2016 ‘Erasmums + Scholarship’ awarded by the European Union (EU) for a year-long international student exchange
• 2012 and 2014 – 2016 ‘Scholarship for Excellence’ awarded by the Università Milano Bicocca and the Università Milano Statale
• 2010 ‘Best International Student’ awarded at Horowhenua College, New Zealand
• 2nd place and 3rd place at the 2009 National and Regional Olympics of Chemistry

Membership

• Member of the Royal Entomological Society, 2018-present